Gobsmacked!

Incredible beatboxing gives this talented a cappella group an edge

The producers of The Magnets have brought a new aca-mazing (sorry) show to the Fringe this year. Featuring soaring vocals, live-looping layers and one breathtakingly good beatboxer, Gobsmacked! manages to add an edge to the a cappella genre.

From the beginning of the show, the talented group showcase their vocal abilities, which are, as expected, highly impressive. From a version of The Killers' ‘Mr Brightside’, which most of the audience don't recognise until the first line is sung, to a simple rendition of Mumford and Sons' ‘I Will Wait’, which the room fell completely silent for, the arrangements and performances are excellent. At times, it is easy to question whether all the sounds you are hearing are in fact human voices.

What really makes this show great, however, is the wow-inducing skills of beatboxer Ball-Zee. As well as playing an integral part in most of the group performances, the artist is allocated a ten-minute solo in the middle. There was no real need to question why, as he almost immediately had the crowd open-mouthed in awe as he tuned 'a drum kit' (himself) and accessed his 'sound files'.

Adding the beatbox stylings of Ball-Zee to the vocals of six talented singers makes for a very enjoyable show, which ended with the entire audience up on their feet clapping and singing along. Even the a cappella haters out there will struggle not to be entertained by Gobsmacked!.